Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs

Melissa Ward, PT, MS, RAC-CT, is the Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs for Functional Pathways. She has over 20 years of healthcare experience with most of her career devoted to improving care in the senior living community. She brings expertise in program development, maximizing functional outcomes, and ensuring appropriate reimbursement in adherence with state and federal regulatory guidelines. During her 5-year tenure with Functional Pathways, she has been instrumental in the development of best practices for effective and efficient care delivery within multiple alternative payment initiatives. Melissa also oversees the development and execution of Functional Pathways’ PDPM initiatives: PDPM Academy and PDPM Client Portal. 

Melissa is an active member of the National Association in Support of Long-Term Care (NASL) where she serves on the Medical Services Committee. She is also a Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care (PAC) trainer and led the development and implementation of Functional Pathways’ holistic, cross-continuum memory care program: Pathways to Engagement.

Melissa is a well-known presenter at state and national conferences including Leading Age national. She has presented on a variety of topics such as the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), evidence-based fall prevention, Parkinson’s Program of Excellence, marketing, Medicare regulations, and alternative payment model care redesign. Her in-depth knowledge of the MDS, CMI, and therapy service delivery has been a valuable contribution to Functional Pathways success.